New Doo Owner Reads Series 3 Problems Post - Snowmobile World : Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

IP SnowHog · 03-06-2003, 12:59 PM

Just retired my XCR 600 last week. Bought my first Ski Doo....hardly used 02 MXZ800X, RER, EStart, guages, pretty black paint, 248miles on it. Put 330 miles on it last weekend, trailered it back home and put a nice coat of wax on it. Happy camper all week until I joined this forum and read the Series 3 Problems post. Thought about hopping back on the 7000 mile xcr this weekend and keep the 800 in the garage so it doesn't break.......not going to happen but sure hope that I don't experience any of the problems that many of you had. I understand that all manufacturers that make anything from a snowmobile to a car to a johnny ring all have products with defects that go out the door but there appears to be a high incidence of issues with the series 3. The mid 90's mono block triples had a history of problems. My 95 xcr 600 still has 150psi in each cyclinder. Only had one problem with the engine, gasket leak at ~ 5K. Inspected the cylinders while they were off....cross hatch still nice, no stuck rings, dial bore indicator showed all within a tenth. Besides the lack of suspension, still runs great.

Got lucky once...hope I'm lucky again.

FreezerBurnt · 03-06-2003, 01:11 PM

150psi on a XCR/XLT engine???

Ya right

Try 120-125lbs

IP SnowHog · 03-06-2003, 01:30 PM

No need to bull anyone. They were also all within a couple of PSI of each other. I'll check it again and take some pictures. I'll check the 800 for hahas too.

Machzzzz1 · 03-06-2003, 01:50 PM

IMO, The series 3 motors are still great motors. There just not up to snuff compaired to the ROTAX engines from the past. Yet I would still take a series 3 over the competition. Most series 3 engines are getting really high milage, but there are a few that are short lived. Our big thread was intended to try and get some consistency going with skidoo and there engines. Just drive it hard and dont worry about it. If somthing should happen, skidoo will take care of you. They always have to me.

Skidoowes · 03-06-2003, 02:21 PM

With that kind of high compression, don't you have to run high test fuel all the time? Maybe the guage is off?

Rocketman · 03-06-2003, 02:38 PM

I think 150psi is the ceiling for regular fuel..I think..thought I read it in SnowTech

Machzzzz1 · 03-06-2003, 03:02 PM

No. You can still run Regular 87 Octane in sleds that have 150. Like rocketman said. 150 is the highest compression you can run on 87 octane.

However Not all series 3 have 150 from the factory. And as far as I know the only Series 3 engine that needs 91 octane is the 809 triple in the Machz. That also makes 150PSI compression.

Formulaman · 03-06-2003, 03:10 PM

The new doo 800 ho needs 91 octane according to the web site it was in the summits for '03 and a few others for '04. IP snowhog just drive it, I got 7000kms on my 700 series three with no probs and still running strong

Poncho · 03-06-2003, 03:35 PM

IP Snowhog.......I have 2,500 miles on my 02 MXZx 800. No problems at all and runs strong.

800MXZ · 03-06-2003, 03:53 PM

And has probably never been apart to check either.

There is allot more to fuel requirements than PSI on a gauge. All that gauge tells ya is ring seal condition.

You can have a engine with. 070 squish, 160lbs of compression and it will run fine on 87 octane. Or you can have the same engine with .050 squish and 140lbs of compresssion and needs 93 octane.

The whole head design is important.